Volume 4, Issue 1, February, 1999

Expanded Format / New Readers

With this issue we are expanding both our format and our readership. THE EBI VISION was originally designed to keep those who have had an active part financially in the ministry of EBI informed of its activities. However, as EBI has grown, there has been as increasing interest from missionaries who use our materials and others who actively pray for the ministry. Therefore, we are sending this issue to many who have not received it before.

The EBI staff has also had a burden to provide materials that will never be published yet are valuable to those in the ministry. Starting with this issue, we will include some type of devotional or doctrinal study that can be shared with others. The material on the other side of this page is a piece that EBI received by e-mail. The author is unknown. It is entitled “Who is God?”

Hillikers to Mexico

Our directors, Gary and Bernie Hilliker traveled to Mexico in November to represent EBI at the Second Annual Conference of the Universidad Cristiana de Monterrey. More than a thousand people attended, many of them pastors, teachers or lay leaders.

The Hillikers took several boxes of EBI materials, mostly Sunday School quarterlies, with them. They were given a table where the books were displayed and sold. It was a delight to see teachers from churches throughout Mexico come with a real desire for materials they could use in their classes.

Some of the attendees were already EBI customers. One teacher walked by the table on her way into the meetings and suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her eyes opened wide and she cried out with joy, “That is the book I have been using in my class.” She then explained how happy she was to have such good Bible studies available to her as a teacher. Many other leaders from the Mexican churches encouraged them with their responses.

The general sessions, seminars, times of prayer, praise and fellowship, carried out the conference theme in a special way: Preparando Líderes para la Nueva Generación (Training Leaders for the New Generation). What a blessing it was to share in this task so close to the heart of each one of us at EBI, the task of “Creating a Spiritual Heritage for the Hispanic World”.

“And the things that thou hast heard among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also”. (2 Timothy 2:2)

Board Meeting Generates Excitement

Each year the Board of Directors of EBI meets in January to review the activities of the year and to discuss plans for the future. The reports this year were again very encouraging, with growth seen in all areas of the ministry. We do praise God for the exciting way He continues to bless our efforts.

The board also voted to proceed with negotiations to purchase the new building now that we have raised nearly 60% of our goal of $160,000. These funds, plus additional money from the general fund of EBI, will be used for a down payment and the construction of the print shop and shipping room. A short-term mortgage will have to be negotiated until the remaining funds are raised and the old building is sold. Pray for this whole project: that the remaining money will come in; that we will have wisdom in drawing up the construction plans; that the old building will sell quickly.

There was added excitement as the plans for this year and the future were discussed. EBI is on the verge of some major expansion of its efforts in Central and South America. These include lower prices, distributors, and a field representative. We will keep you updated in future issue. Pray, as these plans develop, that the tools to teach believers will become more available and local churches will be strengthened as leaders are trained.

Building Fund Boosted by Banquet

On January 28, EBI and Baptist Mid-Missions sponsored a Friends and Family Banquet in Sebring. It brought together 340 friends from ten area churches. During a stewardship opportunity, over $17,000 was raised. Half of that amount went toward the building fund.

In addition to the banquet, other generous gifts from churches and individuals have increased the building fund total to over $91,000.

Enthusiastic Response to Needs

Individuals continue to send in gifts toward the purchase of smaller items. Praise God for each one who has sent money to purchase items.

We still need:

1. Office chair — $200
2. Bulk mailing software — $150/quarter
3. Sealing tape machine for print shop — $100
4. Bulletin board — $50